Q. As a Friends School parent, what does the school expect from me financially?
A. In addition to paying your tuition, we would hope you would choose to participate in the Annual Giving Campaign to the extent that you are financially able and support the periodic capital campaigns which are necessary to provide new facilities and endowment.
Q. But, I already pay tuition. Why do you ask for additional contributions?
A.Private schools do not receive tax dollars, and tuition, which comprises 90 percent of Friends Schools’ operating budget, does not cover the true cost of educating each student. Tax-deductible gifts help make up this difference. In effect, each student receives a “silent” scholarship. Annual Giving directly benefits students and faculty by providing much needed support for: teacher’s salaries, academic programs, extracurricular activities, computers, library acquisitions, science equipment and similar programs.
Q. Why doesn’t Friends School charge enough to cover operating costs?
A. If tuition increased to cover the actual cost of all its programs, many families could not afford to send their children to private schools. Tuition increases at all independent schools would be dramatic. This could mean a drop in enrollment, resulting in a cutback of programs and steeper tuition increases in order to fund operations, all of which would affect your child’s education. Additionally, charitable gifts would be even more difficult to obtain given the increased cost of sending a child to the School. This would preclude our ability to finance many of the important campus programs and improvements made possible by charitable support.
Q. What is Annual Giving?
A. Annual Giving is the charitable contributions made by the School Committee, Founders, faculty, staff, administration, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, vendors, and friends of the School in order to subsidize tuition income each year. It is the amount projected in the current operating budget which permits the school to enhance student programs. 100% of the money raised for Annual Giving goes directly to the operating budget. The Annual Giving drive begins in July of each year with letters and continues with brochures and phone calls in the fall to all Friends School constituents and concludes June 30th of each year.
Q. Is giving to the Annual Giving Drive unique to Friends School?
A. No. Private schools have always had to rely on the generosity and loyalty of their constituencies for their advancement. Very few, if any, private schools, colleges or universities meet their full operational costs with tuition alone.
Q. What is the difference between Annual Giving and the Capital Campaign?
A. Annual Giving subsidizes the operating budget. Capital campaigns are the ongoing process of Fund Raising over a designated period of time for specific building projects.
Q. What is meant by Planned Giving?
A. Planned Giving is the organized effort to secure long term commitments through various forms of deferred gifts. Sound personal financial and estate planning concepts are used to help individual donors plan their gifts in the most tax wise way. Such gifts may be unrestricted or restricted to a donor’s field of interest. All Friends School constituents are eligible to make a planned gift.
Q. What is Endowment?
A. Endowment is a part of Planned Giving. These funds are invested in an Endowment Fund to produce income to supplement the institution’s operating costs. Donors may choose to support a particular area of the schools operating budget, academic or otherwise. In addition to the Friends School family, foundations and corporations are contacted to help build the School’s Endowment. Gifts may be either current or deferred gifts.
Q. Can we make a contribution of something other than cash?
A. Yes. There are many ways to make a contribution to the School. The Advancement Office can help you determine what type of gift is most appropriate for your circumstances and the School’s need. Essentially, there are three ways to make a gift to the School:
Q. Can we restrict our gift to a specific purpose?
A. Certainly. Although Annual Giving requests unrestricted funds which may be used where ever necessary, if there is a project that you would like to fund, please let the Advancement Office know.
Q. Does the School ask local, state and national foundations, corporations and businesses for support?
A. Yes we do. The School’s advancement efforts include soliciting foundations, corporations and businesses. However, these prospective donors often want to see initial support from the constituents before they will commit to the effort. High trustee, parent, alumni, and even faculty participation is vitally important in the grant-seeking process.
Q. Is there a chance our gift can be made anonymously?
A. Yes. When you send your contribution, be sure to let us know that you would like for it to be anonymous, and we will be happy to honor your request. Otherwise, your name will be listed in the appropriate gift category with our other distinguished donors.
Q. My company offers a matching Gift program. Would the School be interested in this program?
A. Absolutely. Each year we receive matching funds from many companies. Those matching gift programs allow their employees to double and sometimes triple their gift to the School. Please let us know when you contribute that your company offers matching gifts.
Q. Would we be expected to give to all of these fundraisers?
A. We would hope that all parents and friends of the School would support all of these fundraising efforts to the best of their ability. Each of these fundraising efforts focuses on important areas of growth for the future of the School and our children. There is, however, no obligation to give to any of these fundraising activities. This information is meant to give you an overview of what you will be asked to support.
Q. How much should we give?
A. Only you can decide. We ask that you remember your contribution, along with those of our donors, will directly enhance our children’s education. We hope that every member of our school community will participate.
Q. How much have others given?
A. As you look around Friends School, practically everything you see is the result of previous gifts from friends of the School. As these previous donors have provided for our current student population, we must also provide for future generations. The only gift too small is no gift at all!
Q. Is our gift tax-deductible?
A. Yes! All contributions to the school are fully tax-deductible according to IRS regulations. We are a not for profit 501 (c) (3) corporation.
Q. How can I get more information?
A. Please feel free to contact the Advancement Office if you have any questions about the Annual Giving Program or other types of giving to the School.
For more information on any of these activities, please contact Larry Ward, Director of Advancement.
A. In addition to paying your tuition, we would hope you would choose to participate in the Annual Giving Campaign to the extent that you are financially able and support the periodic capital campaigns which are necessary to provide new facilities and endowment.
Q. But, I already pay tuition. Why do you ask for additional contributions?
A.Private schools do not receive tax dollars, and tuition, which comprises 90 percent of Friends Schools’ operating budget, does not cover the true cost of educating each student. Tax-deductible gifts help make up this difference. In effect, each student receives a “silent” scholarship. Annual Giving directly benefits students and faculty by providing much needed support for: teacher’s salaries, academic programs, extracurricular activities, computers, library acquisitions, science equipment and similar programs.
Q. Why doesn’t Friends School charge enough to cover operating costs?
A. If tuition increased to cover the actual cost of all its programs, many families could not afford to send their children to private schools. Tuition increases at all independent schools would be dramatic. This could mean a drop in enrollment, resulting in a cutback of programs and steeper tuition increases in order to fund operations, all of which would affect your child’s education. Additionally, charitable gifts would be even more difficult to obtain given the increased cost of sending a child to the School. This would preclude our ability to finance many of the important campus programs and improvements made possible by charitable support.
Q. What is Annual Giving?
A. Annual Giving is the charitable contributions made by the School Committee, Founders, faculty, staff, administration, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, vendors, and friends of the School in order to subsidize tuition income each year. It is the amount projected in the current operating budget which permits the school to enhance student programs. 100% of the money raised for Annual Giving goes directly to the operating budget. The Annual Giving drive begins in July of each year with letters and continues with brochures and phone calls in the fall to all Friends School constituents and concludes June 30th of each year.
Q. Is giving to the Annual Giving Drive unique to Friends School?
A. No. Private schools have always had to rely on the generosity and loyalty of their constituencies for their advancement. Very few, if any, private schools, colleges or universities meet their full operational costs with tuition alone.
Q. What is the difference between Annual Giving and the Capital Campaign?
A. Annual Giving subsidizes the operating budget. Capital campaigns are the ongoing process of Fund Raising over a designated period of time for specific building projects.
Q. What is meant by Planned Giving?
A. Planned Giving is the organized effort to secure long term commitments through various forms of deferred gifts. Sound personal financial and estate planning concepts are used to help individual donors plan their gifts in the most tax wise way. Such gifts may be unrestricted or restricted to a donor’s field of interest. All Friends School constituents are eligible to make a planned gift.
Q. What is Endowment?
A. Endowment is a part of Planned Giving. These funds are invested in an Endowment Fund to produce income to supplement the institution’s operating costs. Donors may choose to support a particular area of the schools operating budget, academic or otherwise. In addition to the Friends School family, foundations and corporations are contacted to help build the School’s Endowment. Gifts may be either current or deferred gifts.
Q. Can we make a contribution of something other than cash?
A. Yes. There are many ways to make a contribution to the School. The Advancement Office can help you determine what type of gift is most appropriate for your circumstances and the School’s need. Essentially, there are three ways to make a gift to the School:
- An outright gift of cash, securities, real and personal property, undivided interest, closely held stock or insurance policies.
- An estate gift or deferred gift through a will
- A deferred gift that will produce current income tax savings, as well as estate tax savings and will provide other lifetime benefits to the donor and his beneficiaries.
Q. Can we restrict our gift to a specific purpose?
A. Certainly. Although Annual Giving requests unrestricted funds which may be used where ever necessary, if there is a project that you would like to fund, please let the Advancement Office know.
Q. Does the School ask local, state and national foundations, corporations and businesses for support?
A. Yes we do. The School’s advancement efforts include soliciting foundations, corporations and businesses. However, these prospective donors often want to see initial support from the constituents before they will commit to the effort. High trustee, parent, alumni, and even faculty participation is vitally important in the grant-seeking process.
Q. Is there a chance our gift can be made anonymously?
A. Yes. When you send your contribution, be sure to let us know that you would like for it to be anonymous, and we will be happy to honor your request. Otherwise, your name will be listed in the appropriate gift category with our other distinguished donors.
Q. My company offers a matching Gift program. Would the School be interested in this program?
A. Absolutely. Each year we receive matching funds from many companies. Those matching gift programs allow their employees to double and sometimes triple their gift to the School. Please let us know when you contribute that your company offers matching gifts.
Q. Would we be expected to give to all of these fundraisers?
A. We would hope that all parents and friends of the School would support all of these fundraising efforts to the best of their ability. Each of these fundraising efforts focuses on important areas of growth for the future of the School and our children. There is, however, no obligation to give to any of these fundraising activities. This information is meant to give you an overview of what you will be asked to support.
Q. How much should we give?
A. Only you can decide. We ask that you remember your contribution, along with those of our donors, will directly enhance our children’s education. We hope that every member of our school community will participate.
Q. How much have others given?
A. As you look around Friends School, practically everything you see is the result of previous gifts from friends of the School. As these previous donors have provided for our current student population, we must also provide for future generations. The only gift too small is no gift at all!
Q. Is our gift tax-deductible?
A. Yes! All contributions to the school are fully tax-deductible according to IRS regulations. We are a not for profit 501 (c) (3) corporation.
Q. How can I get more information?
A. Please feel free to contact the Advancement Office if you have any questions about the Annual Giving Program or other types of giving to the School.
For more information on any of these activities, please contact Larry Ward, Director of Advancement.
